Lola stood in the courtyard, a breeze catching the hem of her gown. Her hands trembled faintly as she clasped them in front of her.
"My lady," Emmeline called softly, her voice straining with concern.
Lola turned. "I wish to be alone," she said with a fragile smile before walking away, her silken skirts brushing the stone as if sweeping the remnants of her pride with them. Her maids exchanged helpless glances, none daring to follow.
Elsewhere, within the grand salon where court ladies gathered like jeweled birds, a maid entered in haste. She dropped into a deep curtsey before Duchess Aurelia and Lady Calantha.
"My lady, I bring news. The Empress Dowager has just arrived at the palace."
The Duchess smiled, not with joy, but with satisfaction so sharp it cut the air.
Lady Calantha raised a brow. "Is this part of your plan?"
With her back to them, the Duchess stood, smoothing the folds of her gown.
"Since Her Majesty Victoria Valentina has returned, our task shall be far less burdensome," she said with a knowing smirk. "The Empress Dowager does not suffer fools or harlots."
The emperor's private chamber was quiet, save for the soft ticking of an ornate clock. Yet, beneath the silence lay a storm waiting to break.
Xander stood by the window, staring out at the gardens as though they held the answers to his unrest. His hands were clasped behind his back, his expression unreadable.
Behind him, the doors opened, and in swept the Empress Dowager, Imperial Majesty Victoria Valentina. Her entrance was as precise as her reputation: cold, poised, and unrelenting.
She did not sit. She never did when anger flared behind her eyes.
"What are you doing here, Mother?" Xander asked without turning, his voice clipped.
"I see you've decided to let the palace fall into scandal while you amuse yourself with your… entertainments," she said coolly, her tone as sharp as the diamonds at her throat.
He let out a dry breath. "You're referring to Lady Charlotte."
"I am referring to your disgraceful decision to place a common girl in the role of Acting Empress without council approval. Without mine."
"She is not common," Xander said, finally facing her. His voice, though calm, carried the weight of steel. "She has earned her place here through merit, not birth."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "Respect is not earned through kindness or clever speech. Nobility is not granted by affection. The court will never bow to her."
"I do not require their bowing," he said, stepping closer. "I am emperor. Their acceptance is not a request, it is a command."
"You may wear the crown," she said icily, "but do not mistake your title for invincibility. Empires crumble when built on passion rather than strategy."
His jaw clenched. "Then let it be known that I am not my grandfather. I will not wield fear to control those I care for."
Victoria gave a humorless chuckle. "Since you cannot manage her, I have come to do so myself."
"There's no need," Xander snapped. "She'll be gone before the end of next month."
She tilted her head slightly, lips curling. "Oh?"
"Yes," he said, voice tight. "I am not going to marry her. As you've said, it was entertainment. When I am done, I will choose a noble bride more suited to the role."
The Empress Dowager's eyes gleamed with something unspoken, victory, perhaps.